Stabilized Stat3 Decoy Oligonucleotides And Uses Therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention is based, at least in part, on novel, unimolecular STAT3 oligonucleotide decoys exhibiting increased in vivo stability as compared to previously known decoys which are effective in inhibiting STAT3 when administered systemically. The invention is also based on pharmaceutical compositions comprising these unimolecular decoys, and methods for using these decoys in the treatment of cancer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US10/61065, filed on Dec. 17, 2010, which claims priority fromU.S. Provisional Applications Ser. Nos. 61/287,341, filed Dec. 17, 2009and 61/324,649, filed Apr. 15, 2010, the contents of each of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

GRANT INFORMATION

This invention was made with government support under grant numbersCAA077308 and CA 101840 awarded by the National Institutes of Health(NIH). The government has certain rights in the invention.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to transcription factor oligonucleotidedecoys targeting STAT3, compositions comprising these STAT3oligonucleotide decoys that are effective in vivo when administeredsystemically, and methods of use thereof in the treatment of cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The family of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STATs)plays a central role in signaling by numerous cytokines, polypeptidegrowth factors, and oncoproteins. STATs were initially described in thecontext of regulating physiologic cell signaling contributing to suchdiverse processes as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Anumber of studies have implicated STAT activation, particularly STAT3,in transformation and tumor progression. Constitutive activation ofSTAT3 has been detected in many hematopoietic and solid malignancies,including multiple myeloma, leukemias, lymphomas, mycosis fungoides, aswell as carcinomas of the prostate, breast, lung, pancreas, ovary andhead and neck (Garcia, R., et al., Oncogene, 20: 2499-2513, 2001;Gouilleux-Gruart, V., et al. Blood, 87. 1692-1697, 1996; Grandis, J. R.,et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 97: 4227-4232., 2000; Huang, M., et al.Gynecol Oncol, 79: 67-73, 2000; and Bowman, T., et al. Oncogene, 19(21):247-42488, 2000). Upon activation, STAT proteins dimerize andtranslocate to the nucleus where they regulate gene expression bybinding to specific DNA-response elements (Darnell, J. E., Jr., Science,277: 1630-1635, 1997).

To directly address the role of STAT3 as an oncogene, a constitutivelyactive mutant of STAT3 was generated (STAT3C) and shown to inducetransformation of fibroblasts and tumor formation in nude mice (Yu, C.L., et al., Science, 269: 81-83, 1995 and Bromberg, J. F., et al., Cell,98: 295-303, 1999). In addition to being a point of convergence fornumerous oncogenic signaling pathways, STAT3 also participates in cellgrowth and survival. One of the first indications that STAT3 signalingcontributes to malignancy, at least in part by preventing apoptosis,came from studies showing that increased expression of theanti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family gene bcl-xL is dependent on constitutivelyactivated STAT3 in multiple-myeloma cells (Catlett-Falcone, R, et al.,Curr. Opin. Oncol. (1999) 11:490-496). Inhibition of STAT3 signalingblocked the expression of Bcl-_(xL) in these tumor cells and sensitizedthem to FAS-mediated apoptosis (Catlett-Falcone, R., Curr. Opin. Oncol.(1999) 11:490-496). Consistent with these findings, STAT3 activation hasbeen shown to regulate Bcl-x_(L) expression and apoptosis in a widerange of tumor cells (Grandis, J. et al., Proc Nati Acad Sci U S A, 97:4227-4232, 2000; Bromberg, J. et al., Cell, 98: 295-303, 1999; and Niu,G., et al., Oncogene (2002) 21:2000-2008).

The association of STAT3 activation with transformation and tumorprogression suggests that STAT3 is an attractive molecular target forcancer therapy. Several strategies have been used to block the action ofSTAT proteins, including antisense methods, ectopic expression ofdominant-negative mutants (Grandis, J. R., et al., Embo J, 15.3651-3658, 1996; and Li, L. et al., J. Biol Chem, 277: 17397-17405,2002), inhibition of upstream kinases (Fry, D. et al., Science, 265:1093-1095, 1994; Kraker, A. J., et al., Biochem Pharmacol, 60: 885-898,2000; and Turkson, J., et al., Mol Cell Biol, 19: 7519-7528, 1999), andphosphotyrosyl peptides (Turkson, J., et al., J Biol Chem, 276:45443-45455, 2001).

An alternative approach to target the action of transcription factors,including STAT proteins, involves the use of double-stranded “decoy”oligonucleotides. The double-stranded DNA decoy closely corresponds tothe response element within the promoter region of a responsive gene. Byachieving a sufficient concentration of decoy in the target cells, theauthentic interaction between a transcription factor and its endogenousresponse element in genomic DNA is impaired, with subsequent modulationof gene expression (U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0052333,2002/0128217 and 2003/0186922 and Nabel, E. G., et al., Science, 249:1285-1288, 1990).

STAT3 decoys that decrease STAT3 activation and inhibit growth ofsquamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), but not normalcells, have been previously described, including, for example, in U.S.Patent Publication No. 2006/0293264, and Leong, P. L., et al., Proc NatlAcad Sci USA, 100: 4138-4143, 2003. These decoys, when injected directlyinto tumors, have been shown to be effective in preclinical cancermodels of the skin, breast, and lung and demonstrated cancer-specificgrowth inhibition (Romano MF, et al. Leuk Lymphoma 2000;36:255-62; ChanKS, et al. J Clin Invest 2004;114:720-8; Xi 5, et al. Oncogene2005;24:970-9; Zhang X, et al. BMC Cancer 2007;7:149; and Sun Z, et al.Immunobiology 2006;211:199-209). Systemic administration of decoy wouldbe preferred over local injection, at least in part because some tumorsare not sufficiently accessible and some (such as small metastases) maybe clinically undetectable. However, previously known STAT3 decoys arerapidly degraded in human serum, rendering their systemic administrationinefficient or ineffective. It is therefore desirable, and an object ofthe present invention, to provide novel STAT3 decoys with enhancedstability that can feasibly be administered systemically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, at least in part, on novel, unimolecularSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoys exhibiting increased in vivo stability ascompared to previously known decoys which are effective in inhibitingSTAT3 when administered systemically. The invention is also based onpharmaceutical compositions comprising these unimolecular decoys, andmethods for using these decoys in the treatment of cancer.

In one aspect, the invention provides double-stranded STAT3oligonucleotide decoys, where the decoy comprises an oligonucleotidethat binds STAT3, e.g., under physiologic conditions, and is effectivein inhibiting growth of a cancer in which STAT3 is activated whenadministered systemically to a subject, and where the decoy has a serumhalf-life of greater than about 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 20 hours, 24 hours, or 48hours. In one embodiment, the decoy has a unimolecular duplex structure.In another embodiment, the decoy comprises at least onephosphorothioated nucleotide.

In one embodiment, the invention provides decoys where the two strandsare linked at one end by a hairpin, e.g., a hairpin consisting of aboutthree, four, or five nucleotides. For example, the decoy comprising ahairpin can also comprise at least one phosphorothioated nucleotide atthe 5′ end of one strand, at least one phosphorothioated nucleotide atthe 3′ end of the other strand, and at least one nucleotide at eitherend of the hairpin, which can be phosphorothioated. In anotherembodiment, the decoy comprising a hairpin comprises threephosphorothioated nucleotides at the 5′ end of one strand and threephosphorothioated nucleotides at the 3′ end of the other strand, andcomprises three phosphorothioated nucleotides at either end of thehairpin.

In another embodiment, the invention provides decoys where the twostrands are linked at one end by a carbon spacer, e.g., a 18-atomhexa-ethyleneglycol (C-18) spacer. In still another embodiment, thecarbon spacer-containing decoy further comprises three phosphorothioatednucleotides at the 5′ end of one strand and three phosphorothioatednucleotides at the 3′ end of the other strand.

In yet another embodiment, the decoy comprises at least one lockednucleic acid (LNA) at the 5′ end of one strand and at least one LNA atthe 3′ end of the other strand. In still another embodiment, the twostrands are linked at one end, e.g., by a carbon spacer or a hairpin.

The decoys of the invention may also comprise cyclic oligonucleotides.In one embodiment, the two strands of the cyclic decoy are linked byspacers at both ends, for example, C-18 spacers. In another embodiment,the 5′ end of the sense strand and the 3′ end of the antisense strandsare linked with LP1a and LP1b spacers and the 3′ end of the sense strandand the 5′ end of the antisense strands are linked by an LP2 spacer. Instill another embodiment, at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid iscovalently linked to the decoy.

In one aspect, the invention provides STATS decoys comprisingCAN₁TTCN₂CN₃TN₄AN₅TC-(N₇-)_(m)-3′, (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein N₁, N₂, N₃, N₄and N₅ are A, T, G or C, and one, two, three or all of the followingconditions are met: N₁, is T; N₂ is C; N₃ is G, N₄ is A and N₅ is A, andN₆ and N₇ we A, T, G or C and n and m are independently 0-50. In oneembodiment, N₂ is a pyrimidine. In another embodiment, at least two ofthe following conditions are met: N₁, is T; N₂ is C; N₃ is G, N₄ is Aand N₅ is A. In still another embodiment, at least three of thefollowing conditions are met: N₁, is T; N2 is C; N₃ is G, N4 is A and N₅is A.

In another aspect, the invention provides derivatives of the STAT3target sequence: (5′-(N₆)_(n)-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-(N₇)_(m)-3′, (SEQ IDNO:2), in which N₆ and N₇ are A, T, G or C and n and m are independently0-50, containing a single nucleotide insertion, deletion or substitutionwithin the sequence 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:30).

The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising theSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy described herein and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositionfurther comprises an anticancer agent. In another embodiment, thepharmaceutical composition is formulated as a parenteral dosage form,e.g., in an intravenous dosage form. In still another embodiment, thepharmaceutical composition is contained within a microbubble.

Another aspect of the invention includes methods of inhibiting growth ofa cancer in which STAT3 is activated in a patient, comprisingadministering to the patient an amount of a STAT3 oligonucleotide decoyof the invention effective to inhibit growth of a cancer in a patient.In one embodiment, the cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma, e.g.,squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SSCHN). In anotherembodiment, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of multiplemyeloma, HTLV-1 dependent leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, largegranular lymphocyte leukemia, lymphoma, EBV-related Burkitt's lymphoma,mycosis fungoides, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma,anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, breast cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer,lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.

In still another aspect, the methods of treatment of the inventioncomprise administering a second anticancer therapy to the patient forthe treatment of cancer. For example, the anticancer therapy can includeradiation and/or chemotherapy. In another embodiment, the anticancertherapy can include an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)antagonist, e.g., antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) such as cetuximab or other anticancer therapy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Depicts the results of a luciferase assay wherein UM-22B cellsstably transfected with a luciferase construct under the control ofSTAT3 hSIE promoter elements were treated with parent STAT3 decoy, STAT3decoy (sense) and STAT3 decoy (antisense) and their mutant controls at adose of 12.6 nM for 24 hours in the presence of serum containing media.Luciferase assay was done after 24 hours. Results indicate that theduplex decoy is required to achieve inhibition of STAT3 transcriptionalactivity.

FIG. 2. Depicts a schematic representation of the parent STAT3 decoy,DH3S STAT3 decoy and DH4S STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 3. Depicts the results of a luciferase assay wherein UM-22B cellsstably transfected with a luciferase construct under the control ofSTAT3 hSIE promoter elements were treated with parent STAT3 decoy andmodified decoys DH3S and DH4S, and their mutant controls, at a dose of12.6 nM for 24 hours in the presence of serum containing media.Luciferase assay was done after 24 hours. DH4S demonstrateddownmodulation of promoter activity which was comparable to the parentSTAT3 decoy.

FIG. 4. Depicts a schematic representation of the DN4 STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 5. Depicts a schematic representation of the DS18 STAT3 decoy inFIG. 5 a and the C-18 spacer in FIG. 5 b.

FIG. 6. Depicts a schematic representation of the LNA STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 7. Shows the results of a serum stability assay determining thehalf-life of the parent STAT3 decoy (identified as “STAT3 decoy”) andmodified STAT3 decoys (e.g., DN4, DS18, LNA, and LNA-1) studied. (A)Lane 1: undigested parent STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18, LNA, and LNA-1 as runon a 15% TBE+7 M urea gel, lane 2-12: STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18, LNA andLNA-1 incubated with mouse serum for various lengths of time. (B)Densitometry data of the parent and modified decoys digested with mouseserum at various time points are expressed as stability levels relativeto corresponding control (control=undigested modified or parent decoy).The serum stability assay demonstrated increased resistance of DN4, DS18and LNA to serum nucleases compared to the parent STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 8. Illustrates the effect of systemic delivery of parent STAT3decoy and LNA in HNSCC xenografts. UM-22B cells (2×10⁶ cells/mouse) wereinoculated subcutaneously in 24 athymic nude mice. The same day the micereceived daily intravenous injections of saline, parent STAT3 decoy orLNA. Tumors were measured three times per week. At the end of day 17,the xenograft tumors showed no decrease in tumor volume compared to thevehicle control tumors demonstrating no antitumor efficacy of LNA orparent STAT3 decoy administered systemically,

FIG. 9. Depicts a schematic representation of the LNA-1 STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 10. Depicts the binding of parent STAT3 decoy and the modifiedSTAT3 decoys to pSTAT3 protein, which were evaluated by gelelectrophoresis using a sensitive fluorescent stain to detect double orsingle-stranded DNA. The parent STAT3 decoy and the modified decoys wereincubated with pSTAT3 protein and ran on a 6% polyacrylamide-TBE gel.The gel was stained with SYBR Gold Nucleic Acid stain and subjected totransillumination and photographed using Polaroid 667 black and whiteprint film.

FIG. 11. Thermal denaturation of various STAT3 decoys such as parentSTAT3,DN4,DS18 and LNA-1 were monitored at 260 nm at the heating andcooling rate of 1° C./min from 20° C. to 90° C. The melting transitionswere determined from the first derivatives of the UV-melting curves.

FIG. 12. Depicts dose response curves of (A) parent STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18 and LNA-1 and (B) parent STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS 18 in an HNSCC cellline. Cells were exposed to varying concentrations of parent STAT3decoy, DN4, DS18 and LNA-1 in presence of lipofectamine (LPA) 2000. MTTassay was done after 72 hours to determine cell viability from which %kill was determined. Control wells contained saline in presence of LPA2000. For each data point, n=3. For (A), 1483 cells were used. In (B),UM-SCC1 cells were used.

FIG. 13. Illustrates that modified STAT3 decoys (DN4, DS18, LNA-1)decrease cell viability similar to the parent STAT3 decoy in HNSCCcells. 1483 cells were transfected with STAT3 decoy/mutant, DN4/MN4,DS18/MS18, and LNA-1/mLNA-1 in (A) and UM-SCC1 cells transfected withSTAT3 decoy/mutant, DN4/MN4 and DS 18/MS18 in (B)) at their EC₅₀concentrations for 4 hours and replaced with DMEM+10% PBS. After 72hours, cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Results in A are from3 separate experiments.

FIG. 14. Depicts a schematic representation of the 2-CS18 STAT3 decoy.

FIG. 15. Depicts a schematic representation of the 2 LP STAT3 decoy(FIG. 15A) and LP1a, LP2, and LP1b (FIG. 15B).

FIG. 16. Depicts a schematic representation of the 2 LP DHA STAT3 decoy(FIG. 16A) and LP1a, LP1b, T1, and DHA (FIG. 16B).

FIG. 17. Depicts the LP1a-Monomer (LP1 a-M), the LP1b-Monomer (LP1b-M),and the LP2-Monomer (LP2-M).

FIG. 18. Depicts (A): The pH scouting results on pStat3 (20 μg/mL) in 10mM acetate buffers with different pH; (B) the immobilization process ofpStat3 (20 μg/mL) in acetate buffer (pH 5.0) on the CM5 chip.Preliminary pH scouting experiments were performed prior toimmobilization of pStat3 on the CM5 chip to determine the optimal pH forpre concentration of ligand (e.g. pStat3) onto CM5 surface (FIG. 18A).The optimized conditions for immobilization of pStat3 were determinedusing a concentration of pStat3 at 20 μg/mL with acetate buffer at pII5.0. High capacity surfaces were generated via standard EDC/NHS-mediatedamine coupling procedure (FIG. 18B).

FIG. 19. Depicts the results of incorporation of STAT3 decoy inmicrobubbles.

FIG. 20, Depicts binding affinities of STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 topSTAT3 protein. The response of STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 in differentconcentrations to pSTAT3 immobilized on the CM5 chip is shown.

FIG. 21, Depicts incorporation of STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 in UM-SCC1cells using confocal microscopy. The white granular spots representingthe decoys can be seen within the cells.

FIG. 22. Depicts down modulation of STAT3 target genes in UM-SCC1 cellstreated with DS18. Western analyses of UM-SCC1 cells treated with DS18at its EC₅₀ concentration or the same concentration of MS18. After 72hours, cells were harvested and 40 μg protein was run on a 10% gel todetermine cyclin D1 and Bcl-X_(L) expression. β-tubulin was used as aloading control.

FIG. 23. Illustrates that DS18 modulates target gene expression inxenograft tumors at 24 hours. The bar graph is a quantitativerepresentation of the expression of Bcl-X_(L) and cyclin D1 relative toβ-actin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, at least in part, on novel, STAT3oligonucleotide decoys that are modifications of previously known decoysand that exhibit increased in vivo stability, and pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising these decoys. In one embodiment, the STAT3decoys of the invention have a unimolecular structure. A decoy of thepresent invention comprises an oligonucleotide that is capable ofspecifically binding to activated STAT3, e.g., under physiologicconditions, and preventing binding of STAT3 to native response elementsequences. The decoys of the invention may be used to inhibit STAT3activity in vivo and to reduce growth of cancers in which STAT3 isactivated, including, but not limited to, SCCHN, breast cancer, lungcancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, and gliomas. Their enhancedstability makes these decoys amendable to systemic administration.

The present invention is also based, at least in part, on methodscomprising encapsulating STAT3 decoys in microbubbles followed byrelease of the decoys at a tumor site using, for example, therapeuticultrasound, allowing for systemic administration followed by localdelivery of the STAT3 decoy without the need for an intra-tumoralinjection. These embodiments enable delivery of decoy to regions thatare difficult or dangerous to access by injection (e.g., anintracerebral tumor).

A STAT3 decoy of the present invention can be used alone or incombination with one or more additional cancer therapy known in the art.For example, a STAT3 decoy of the invention can be used in combinationwith one or more agent that blocks epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) expression or activity, including, for example, the monoclonalantibody cetuximab®, e.g., in the treatment of SCCHN.

STAT3 Decoys Of The Invention

As used herein, the terms “decoy” and “transcription factor decoy” referto molecules that bind to or interact with transcription factors andprevent their binding to native response element sequences. Decoysinclude nucleic acid sequences, including, but not limited to,oligonucleotides that correspond to (i.e., are identical to oressentially identical to) the native DNA response element.

As used herein, a “STAT3 decoy” comprises a double-strandeddeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) backbone or an analog thereof to which STAT3binds under physiologic conditions, and which effectively interfereswith binding of activated STAT3 to its target DNA sequences in a gene,thereby modulating (changing, altering or otherwise affecting) theeffect of activated STAT3 on expression of the gene. A STAT3 decoy cancontain any effective sequence, but is defined by its ability tospecifically bind STAT3 and to interfere with the binding of STAT3 withits target DNA sequence. As such a STAT3 decoy of the invention containsa “STAT3 target sequence,” namely a sequence to which STAT3 binds, Forpurposes herein, a candidate STAT3 decoy may be tested for its bindingaffinity and target specificity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay,by binding with STAT3 and by effectively competing with binding of STAT3to double-stranded DNA comprising a STAT3 target sequence, for example,and without limitation, such as 5′-CAGTTCCCTTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:4).

In non-limiting embodiments of the invention, a STAT3 decoy comprises a15-mer double-stranded oligonucleotide backbone, optionally having threephosphorothioate modifications (PTO) at the 3′ and/or 5′ end of thedouble-stranded structure (see, for example Leong P L, Andrews G A,Johnson D E, et al. Targeted inhibition of Stat3 with a decoyoligonucleotide abrogates head and neck cancer cell growth. 2003. p.4138-43; US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0293264, both ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein).

Specific non-limiting examples of STAT3 decoys include (1) anoligonucleotide comprising the STAT3 target sequence5′-(N₆)_(n)-CAN₁TTCN2CN3TN4AN₅TC-(N₇-)_(m)-3′, (SEQ ID NO:1), whereinN₁, N₂, N₃, N₄ and N₅ are A, T, G or C, and one, two, three or all ofthe following conditions are met: N₁, is T; N2 is C; N3 is G, N₄ is Aand N₅ is A, and N₆ and N₇ are A, T, G or C and n and m areindependently 0-50;(2) the oligonucleotide of (1) where N₂ is apyrimidine; and (3) the DNA or DNA analog of (1) or (2) comprising aderivative of the STAT3 target sequence5′-(N₆)_(n)-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-(N₇)_(m)-3′, (SEQ ID NO:2), in which N₆ andN₇ are A, T, G or C and n and m are independently 0-50, containing asingle nucleotide insertion, deletion or substitution within thesequence 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 30). By the phrase“containing a single nucleotide insertion, deletion or substitutedwithin the sequence 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 30)” it is meantthat any one of the listed bases may be deleted or substituted, or anucleotide can be inserted in any place between any of the listednucleotides. In many instances, two or more nucleotides may be inserted,deleted or substituted within the STAT3 target sequence to produce aneffective STAT3 decoy (see Table 1). STAT3 decoy consensus sequences andmutants thereof are described herein and are also known in the art.Wagner et al. also provides mutational analysis and a consensus sequencefor the SIF/STAT3 binding domain, Wagner, B. J., et al., EMBO J.9(13):4477-4484 (1990)(see, FIG. 2A), The STAT3 decoy sequence can berepeated two or more times in the STAT3 decoy and/or can beconcatamerized or otherwise combined with a second, different decoysequence.

The STAT3 decoy comprises a double-stranded oligonucleotide oroligonucleotide analog. There is no strict size limit to an“oligonucleotide” or “oligonucleotide analog” as defined herein, onlythat the oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analog can pass into atarget cell, by itself or with the assistance of a cell permeationenhancer such as a liposome composition or microbubble or a peptidetransduction domain, for example, TAT (Fischer, P. M. et al.,Bioconjugate Chemistry 12(6):825-841 (2001) and Tung, C. H. et al.,Bioconjugate Chemistry 11(5):605-618 (2000)), and provides sufficientsequence information to act as a STAT3 decoy. As such, anoligonucleotide typically ranges from 5 to 100 bases. As an example,certain specific oligonucleotides are, for example, about 5, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 bases inlength. The term “oligonucleotide”, as used herein, may refer to amolecule comprising naturally occurring nucleoside bases or analogsthereof, and/or bases that are not found in nature, such as nucleosideanalogs.

As used herein, an “oligonucleotide analog” or “nucleic acid analog” isa nucleic acid, or a nucleic acid substitute, other than a linear,double-stranded DNA, that is a functional analog of a double-strandedDNA, which, in the context of the present disclosure is an effectiveSTAT3 decoy as determined by, for example and without limitation, theelectrophoretic mobility shift assays described herein. Functionalanalogs are compounds that are suitable for use as STAT3 decoys andtherefore have adequate sequence specificity and ability to bind toSTAT3 and interfere with the binding of STAT3 with its target DNAsequence. Examples of oligonucleotide or nucleic acid analogs include,without limitation: double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA andsingle-stranded RNA. Further non-limiting examples include molecularstructures containing oligonucleotide as well as non-nucleic portions,for example a double-stranded oligonucleotide, the strands of which arejoined by an organic linker molecule.

The STAT3 decoy may also comprise phosphorothioate (PTO) modifications,e.g., at the 3′ and/or 5′ ends of the double-stranded structure. Forexample, in one embodiment (and as referenced in the Examples) the STAT3decoy comprises three PTO modifications at the 5′ and 3′ ends of bothstrands. Other modifications include, without limitation,methylphosphonation.

Other, non-limiting examples of STAT3 decoy modifications includeconjugation to a protein/peptide transduction domain, such as TAT;conjugation to cancer cell-targeting peptides, such as ligands ofsurface proteins expressed or overexpressed on the surface of a targetcancer cell, such as without limitation, Epidermal Growth FactorReceptor (see, Phillips, P. C., et al., Cancer Res. 54(4):1008-15(1994)); methylation; conjugation to tumor-targeting ligands, such asantibodies, folate or iron; cyclization; dumbbell structure and generalchemical modification, that is, substitution of one chemical group foranother. As an example of a general chemical modification, one group,such as an H, can be substituted with any saturated or unsaturatedhydrocarbon group, including lower alkyl (C₁-C₆), lipid, and polymer(for example, PEG) groups. Examples of modified nucleic acids areprovided, without limitation, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,653,458, 6,727,044,6,743,909, 6,753,423 and 6,762,169.

The STAT3 decoy can include nucleotide sequences permitting maintenanceof the decoy, either episomally or integrated in the host cellchromosome, in the target cell. Thus, incorporation of one or more STAT3binding sequences in a plasmid or viral vector can permit a target cellto maintain either transiently or for longer-term the STAT3 decoy as anepisome or integrated into a chromosome. Numerous publications andpatent documents describe a variety of nucleic acid vectors, plasmidsand the like for propagating and maintaining a desired nucleic acid inan episomal or integrated state. In one non-limiting example, aconcatamer of a double-stranded DNA STAT3 decoy described herein isinserted between Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) ITRs according towell-established recombinant methods and is packaged into recombinantAAV (rAAV) virus particles in AAV capsid proteins. The rAAV particlescan then be used to infect the target cancer cells, typically, but notexclusively, by intratumoral infection (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,139,941, 5,436,146, 5,478,745 and 6,548,286). Other viral vectors,such as, without limitation, retroviral vectors, are useful intransferring the STAT3 decoy into target cells.

The novel, modified STAT3 decoys of the present invention comprise aSTAT3 decoy as set forth above as well as one or more additionalmodifications that increase stability and/or protect the decoy fromdegradation when administered systemically, while retaining the abilityto bind STAT3, reduce or inhibit growth of a cancer in which STAT3 isactivated, interfere with STAT3 binding to a STAT3 response element incancer cells in which STAT3 is activated, and/or induce apoptosis intumor cells in which STAT3 is activated.

In non-limiting embodiments, the STAT3 decoys of the present inventioncomprise chemically-modified DNA strands resulting in a unimolecularstructure that retains the ability to bind STAT3 and inhibit tumor cellgrowth, but substantially maintains a duplex state and exhibits a serumhalf-life of greater than about 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, or 8 hours, A “unimolecular structure” meansthat the STAT3 decoy, which comprises double-stranded nucleic acid,comprises a feature, which, covalently car non-covalently, promotesduplex formation in at least a portion of the molecule. While notintending to be bound by any particular theory, maintenance of duplexformation in at least a portion of the molecule is believed to beimportant for STAT3 binding and sequestration. The unimolecularstructure is produced using any number of methods, including, but notlimited to, linking the two complementary oligonucleotide strandstogether through a hairpin loop structure, a flexible carbon spacer, orthrough the use of locked nucleic acid molecules (LNAs). These STAT3decoys may or may not comprise phosphorothioate modifications at theends of either or both of the oligonucleotide strands. In certainnon-limiting embodiments of the invention, the unimolecular STAT3 decoyis cyclic, thereby promoting double-stranded structure in at least aportion of the molecule.

In one embodiment, the STAT3 decoys of the present invention have aunimolecular structure, retain the ability to bind STAT3 and inhibittumor cell growth, and/or substantially maintain a duplex state andexhibit a serum half-life of greater than about 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 3hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, or 8 hours.

As used herein, the term “duplex,” in reference to oligonucleotides,refers to regions that are double stranded through hybridization ofcomplementary base pairs. The unimolecular duplex structure can beproduced by, for example, covalently linking the two complementarystrands together, for example, by introducing a hairpin loop structureor a chemical linker (which may be a nucleic acid or a non-nucleic acidelement such as a carbon chain). The term “hairpin” refers todouble-stranded nucleic acid structures formed by base-pairing betweenregions of the same strand of a nucleic acid molecule. The regions arearranged inversely and can be adjacent or separated by noncomplementarysequence.

In one embodiment, the modified STAT3 decoy comprises a 15-meroligonucleotide with three phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′ endof one strand and 3′ end of the other wherein the two strands are linkedat one end by a hairpin consisting of four nucleotides (e.g., GAAA). Thehairpin is not limited to just GAAA, it can be any other sequence withsufficient flexibility that would allow the two halves of the DNAelements to hybridize with one another to form an intramolecular duplex.Nucleotides at either end of the hairpin may be phosphorothioated toconfer resistance to S1 nucleases in the hairpin loop structure andincrease the stability of the double stranded structure. A decoycomprising this structure is exemplified in the Examples section andFIG. 4 as STAT3 decoy “DN4.”

In another embodiment, a non-nucleic acid synthetic spacer, such as, forexample, an ethylene glycol spacer having about 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 carbons may be introduced into the decoy,thereby linking the two oligonucleotide strands. Such carbon spacers arestructurally different from the DNA backbone, and do not physicallyinteract with any DNA or with DNA binding enzymes, and therefore protectthe decoy from nucleases (Durand M, et at. Nucleic acids res,1990;18:6353-9). In one embodiment, a modified STAT3 decoy comprises a15-mer oligonucleotide with three phosphorothioate modifications at the5′ and 3′ end of both the strands, and a C-18 spacer. An example of adecoy comprising this structure is provided in the Examples section andFIG. 5 as STAT3 decoy “DS18.”

Alternatively, a unimolecular duplex structure may be producednon-covalently by introducing structures which favor base-pairing andincrease the melting point of the duplex; in such embodiments, theunimolecular nature of the decoy may be destroyed by conditions thatdisrupt annealing between base pairs (such as elevated heat), but suchconditions would be outside the physiologic range and accordingly wouldnot be expected to be encountered in vivo.

In a non-limiting subset of such non-covalently bound unimolecular STAT3decoys, modified STAT3 decoys of the invention may contain one or morelocked nucleic acid molecules (LNAs). LNAs are a class of nucleic acidanalogues in which the ribose ring is “locked” by a methylene bridgeconnecting the 2′-O atom and the 4′-C atom. LNA oligonucleotides displayunprecedented hybridization affinity toward double-stranded DNA (Crooke,Antisense Drug Technology, CRC Press 2008, Chapter 19). Inclusion ofeven a single LNA induces conformational changes in the sugar pucker ofadjacent nucleotides that favor high affinity hybridization. (Id.) Thesubstitution of nucleotide with LNA in an oligonucleotide has beendocumented and LNAs have displayed high resistance to exo- andendonucleases and result in increased thermal stability of duplexoligonucleotides (Crinelli R, et at Nucleic acids research2004;32(6):1874-85). The decoys of the present invention may contain oneor more LNAs positioned at the 5′ and/or 3′ ends of the oligonucleotidestrands. The LNAs should be positioned in a manner that does notinterfere with affinity of the decoy molecule by, for example, effectinga conformational change in the binding region. In one exemplaryembodiment, the decoys of the invention comprise at least one LNA aswell as a spacer or hairpin to form a duplex oligonucleotide.

For example, a modified STAT3 decoy of the present invention comprisesan oligonucleotide with one LNA at the 5′ end of one strand and 3′ endof the other. The two strands are linked at one end by a hairpinconsisting of C-18 spacer. An example of this exemplary modified STAT3decoy is described in the Examples section and FIG. 9 as “LNA-1.”

The STAT3 decoys of the invention may also be covalently renderedunimolecular by circularization of the oligonucleotide. Cyclicoligonucleotides have been shown to have potential for biological uses(Kool ET. Annual review of biophysics and biomolecular structure1996;25:1-28). They have increased thermodynamic stability potentiallyarising from the intramolecular nature of the construct (El-Sagheer AH,et al. Chembiochem 2008;9(1):50-2). In addition, because of theircircular nature, they may be more resistant to nuclease degradation inbiological media (Lee 1K, et at Current drug targets 2003;4(8):619-23).As a unimolecular system, duplex formation will be independent ofconcentration. In one embodiment, the circularized decoy will alsocontain a spacer or linker at one or both ends linking the two strands.For example, LP1a and LP1b spacers, as described by El-Sagheer et at(Chembiochem 2008;9(1):50-2)), or C-18 spacers may be utilized. LP2 mayalso be used to link the two strands together (Lee and Lee, Curr, DrugTargets 2003;4(8):619-23). In another embodiment, T1 with DHA attachedmay be used to link the two strands together (Ojima, et al. Ace. Chem.Res 2008;41(1):108-19. Exemplary circularized decoys are set forth inthe Examples section, i.e., the “2-CS18,” “2LP,” and “2LP DHA” STAT3decoys, FIGS. 14, 15, and 16.

Maximum efficacy of a systemically delivered STAT3 decoy to the targettumor site requires uptake by the tumor cells, In order to enhanceuptake of the STAT3 decoys of the invention into tumor cells whenadministered systemically, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can beattached to the cyclic STAT3 decoy. The PUFAs can be covalently attachedto the cyclic STAT3 decoy. Since PUFAs are a natural source in vegetableoils, cold-water fish, and meat, their application in the delivery ofcompounds is considered nontoxic for human use. PUFAs exhibit anticanceractivity against several different cancer cell lines includingMia-Pa—Ca-2 pancreatic and HL-60 leukemia cell lines; and theirantitumor activities have been tested in preclinical and clinicalstudies (Hawkins R A, Sangster K, Mends M J. The Journal of pathology1998;185(1):61-70). Docosahexanoic acid (DHA), an omega-3polyunsaturated fatty acid, has been classified as a nutritionaladditive by the FDA (safe for human use). DHA has been effectively usedto deliver taxol into cancer cells (Ojima 1. Accounts of chemicalresearch 2008;41(1);108-19).

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The STAT3 decoys of the invention can be incorporated intopharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration to a patient.Such pharmaceutical compositions may further comprise a “pharmaceuticalcarrier” or “carrier” which may be any compound or composition useful infacilitating storage, stability, administration, cell targeting and/ordelivery of the STAT3 decoy to a target cell or cell population,including, without limitation, suitable vehicles, diluents, solvents,excipients, pH modifiers, salts, colorants, flavorings, rheologymodifiers, lubricants, coatings, fillers, antifoaming agents, erodiblepolymers, hydrogels, surfactants, emulsifiers, adjuvants, preservatives,phospholipids, fatty acids, mono-di- and tri-glycerides and derivatesthereof, waxes, oils, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic andabsorption delaying agents, water, and the like, that are compatiblewith pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media and agents forpharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Exceptinsofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with theactive compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated.Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into thecompositions.

In one embodiment, the STAT3 decoy is suspended in water (USP) fordelivery in vivo, Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, buffers or buffersystems, including, without limitation, saline, phosphate buffer orphosphate buffered saline (PBS) may be included in the dosage form.Vehicles having the ability to facilitate delivery of nucleic acidsand/or nucleic acid analogs to a cell in vivo may be utilized tofacilitate delivery of the decoy to the target cells. In one embodiment,the decoys are prepared with carriers or vehicles that will protect themagainst rapid degradation and elimination from the body, such as acontrolled release formulation, including implants and microeneapsulateddelivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used,such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid,collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for preparationof such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thematerials can also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation andNova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. One non-limiting example of such a vehicle isa liposomal suspension, e.g., a cationic liposome system or liposomalsuspension, for example and without limitation as shown in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,656,498, 6,696,038, 6,749,863, and 4,522,811. Additional vehicleshaving the ability to facilitate delivery of nucleic acids and/ornucleic acid analogs to a cell in vivo, such as the AAV and retroviralvehicles described above, are suited for use in a STAT3 decoy-containingdosage form.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to becompatible with its intended route of administration. in one embodiment,the STAT3 decoy is delivered intratumorally, which includes deliveryinternal to a tumor and/or immediately adjacent to a tumor or a cancercell such that the decoy diffuses to contact the tumor or cancer cell.

The STAT3 decoy also may be administered locally, regionally orsystemically as desired, for example and without limitation:intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, dermally, subdermally,intraperitoneally, transdermally, iontophoretically, orally (e.g.,inhalation), and transmucosally. Non-limiting examples of devices usefulin delivering the STAT3-containing dosage to a patient includeneedle/syringes, catheters, trocars, stents or projectiles.

Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, orsubcutaneous application can include the following components: a sterilediluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils,polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other syntheticsolvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methylparabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite;chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers suchas acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment oftonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. pH can be adjusted withacids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Theparenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampules, disposable syringesor multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterileaqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterilepowders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectablesolutions or dispersion. For intravenous administration, suitablecarriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, CremophorEL. (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In allcases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extentthat easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditionsof manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Thecarrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example,water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, andliquid polyetheylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixturesthereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the useof a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the requiredparticle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants.Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by variousantibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens,chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In manycases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example,sugars, polyalcohols such as manitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in thecomposition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can bebrought about by including in the composition an agent which delaysabsorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the activecompound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or acombination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed byfiltered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared byincorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle which containsa basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from thoseenumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation ofsterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation arevacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the activeingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previouslysterile-filtered solution thereof.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermalmeans. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrantsappropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, forexample, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, andfusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can beaccomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. Fortransdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated intoointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

Depending on the route of administration, varying amounts of the STAT3decoy may be necessary. The data obtained from in vitro cell-basedassays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosagefor use in humans. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within arange of circulating concentrations that include the ED50 with little orno toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon thedosage form employed and the route of administration utilized.

Although certain threshold amounts of STAT3 decoy need to be deliveredby any given dosage form by any given route, each dosage form hasdiffering ability to deliver the decoy to the cancer cells. Typically,intratumoral injection of the STAT3 decoy will require the least amountsof the decoy. Intravenous, or intramuscular systemic delivery typicallywill require larger amounts of decoy. Dosage forms that efficientlydeliver the decoy to a cell would require less decoy than those that areless efficient. Further, certain cancers will require varying amounts ofdecoy. Therefore, it is more critical that an effective amount of theSTAT3 decoy be delivered to a patient in order to achieve a desiredtherapeutic goal (e.g., reducing or inhibiting growth of a cancer inwhich STAT3 is activated, interfering with STAT3 binding to a STAT3response element in cancer cells in which STAT3 is activated, and/orinducing apoptosis in tumor cells in which STAT3 is activated), ratherthan a fixed dose for every patient, Nevertheless, standard dosageregimens may be developed.

For example, and without limitation, for intratumoral or systemic (e.g.,intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, dermal, subdermal,intraperitoneal, transdermal, or transmucosal) delivery of a STAT3decoy, about 1 to 1,000 μg, typically in 0.1 μg and 1.0 μg increments,of decoy in a carrier may be injected at the tumor site or systemicallyonce daily, every other day, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, orotherwise as needed. Depending on the progression of the cancer in theindividual patient, one or more intratumoral injections may be needed toensure sufficient contact of the decoy with the cancer cells. Thedelivered amounts may range between about 1 and 1,000 μg, including,without limitation, about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250,500 and 1000 μg, and even higher or lower, as is effective to reach thedesired end point, such as, without limitation, reducing or inhibitinggrowth of a cancer in which STAT3 is activated, interfering with STAT3binding to a STAT3 response element in cancer cells in which STAT3 isactivated, and/or inducing apoptosis in tumor cells in which STAT3 isactivated. Intratumoral delivery may, in some instances, require lessSTAT3 decoy than systemic delivery, for example about 10 to 1,000 μg.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a kit, container,pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration.

Methods of Treatment

The compositions, methods and articles of manufacture described hereinare effective in treating cancers in which STAT3 is activated. Withoutlimitation, one class of cancers that belong to this group is thesquamous cell carcinomas, which also are known as epitheloid cancers. Asused herein a “squamous cell carcinoma” is a cancer arising, at least inpart, from a squamous cell population and/or containing, at least inpart, a squamous cell population including, without limitation, certaincancers of the cervix; penis; head and neck, including, withoutlimitation cancers of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasalsinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx; lung; esophageal; skin;vulva and bladder. Other, non-limiting examples of cancers in whichSTAT3 may be activated are: multiple myeloma; HTLV-1 dependent leukemia;acute myelogenous leukemia (AML); large granular lymphocyte leukemia;lymphomas, including EBV-related Burkitt's lymphoma, mycosis fingoides,cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma; anaplastic large-celllymphoma (ALCL), breast cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer,pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer (Yu, H. et al., Nat. Rev. Cancer,2004 Feb., 4(2):97-105). Methods that are known in the art and describedin, for example, Song and Grandis, Oncogene, 2000, 19(21):2489, can beused to determine if STAT3 is activated.

Microbubbles can also be used to effectively deliver the STAT3 decoys ofthe invention when administered systemically. In one embodiment, thedecoys are incorporated into or complexed with gas microbubbles whichmay be in the form of encapsulated gas microspheres or gas bubblesstabilized by materials such as surfactants, lipids, proteins,lipoproteins, and polymers. The gas may be comprised of any species ofgas, but physiologically compatible gases such as air and nitrogen arepreferred. Microbubbles serve to protect the decoy from degradationuntil it reaches the tumor, but do not inhibit the ability of the decoyto bind STAT3. The microbubbles comprising the STAT3 decoys of theinvention may be delivered into the tumor using high injection pressure,ultrasound treatment of the target tumor, or combinations of ultrasoundtreatment and injection pressure. Delivery of drugs in microbubbles isdescribed in, for example, Mayer C R, et al. Expert Opin Drug Deliv2008;5:1121-38; Pit et al. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2004, 1(1): 37, andU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,468,418, 7,033,574, 6,548,048, 7,115,583, incorporatedherein by reference. For example, the therapeutic agent (decoy) istrapped in the membrane of the microbubble. Under ultrasound resonancesthat match the subresonance frequency of the microbubble, the membranebegins to oscillate. At higher ultrasound pressures, the amplitude ofthe oscillation may be increased to an extent that results inmicrobubble disruption releasing the drug locally. SCCHN is largely alocal-regional disease and head and neck tumors are generally accessibleto ultrasound imaging, and are therefore accessible for ultrasounddelivery of microbubbles containing the decoys of the invention.

Nano-scale delivery vehicles can also be used to deliver the STAT3decoys of the present invention. Exemplary methods of drug deliveryusing nanoparticles are described in, for example, Malam, Y., et al.Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 2009 Nov;30(11);592-9 and Matsusaki et al. ExpertOpin Drug Deliv. 2009 Nov;6(11):1207-17, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein, in their entireties.

Treatment of a patient with the described STAT3 decoy may be combinedwith other anti-cancer therapies, such as treatment with an anticanceragent and radiation therapy. These therapies can be administered to apatient according to any effective protocol, though the treatments maybe modified to optimize the combination treatment along with the STAT3decoy. For example, and without limitation, radiation therapy isperformed by administering to the patient a suitable radiation dose of asuitable time at any suitable interval according to well-establishedprotocols. Anticancer agents are administered according to typicalprotocols for the given drug. Non-limiting classes of drugs useful incombination with the STAT3 decoy include: tyrosine kinase inhibitors,such as gefitinib (Iressa™) and imatinib mesylate (Gleevec™), monoclonalantibodies, such as rituximab (Rituxan™) and cetuxirnab (Erbitux™);angiogenesis inhibitors, such as endostatin; immune modulators, such asinterleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-2 (IL-2); non-receptor tyrosinekinase inhibitors, such AG490 JAK2 inhibitor and PP2 src family kinaseinhibitor or dasatinib; serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, such asU0126 for MEK1/2, wortmanin for P13K; farnesyl or geranyl transferaseinhibitors, such as FTI-277 and GGTI-298; and G-protein-coupled receptorinhibitors, such as RC3095 far bombesin and An-238 for somatostatin.

Non-limiting examples of anticancer agents include: AG-490; aldesleukin;alemtuzumab; alitretinoin; allopurinol; altretamine; amifostine; An-238;anastrozole; arsenic trioxide; asparaginase; BCG Live (BacillusCalmette-Guerin); bevazizumab; bexarotene; bleomycin; busulfan;calusterone; capecitabine; capecitabine; carboplatin; carmustine;celecoxib; cetuximab; chlorambucil; cisplatin; cladribine;cyclophosphamide; cyclophosphamide; cytarabine; dactinomycin;darbepoetin alfa; dasatinib; daunorubicin; daunorubicin, daunomycin;denileukin diftitox; dexrazoxane; docetaxel; doxorubicin; dromostanolonepropionate; Elliott's B Solution; endostatin; epirubicin; epoetin alfa;estramustine; etoposide phosphate; etoposide, VP-16; exemestane;filgrastim; floxuridine; fludarabine; fluorouracil; FTI-2777;fulvestrant; gefitinib; gemcitabine; gemeitabine; gemtuzumab ozogamicin;GGTI-298; goserelin acetate; gossypol; hydroxyurea; ibritumomab;idarubicin; idarubicin; ifosfamide; imatinib mesylate; interferonalfa-2a; interferon alfa-2b; IL-2; IL-12; irinotecan; letrozole;leucovorin; levamisole; lomustine; meclorethamine; nitrogen mustard;mcgestrol acetate; melphalan, L-PAM; mercaptopurine, 6-MP; mesna;methotrexate; methoxsalen; mitomycin C; mitotane; mitoxantrone;nandrolone phenpropionate; nofeturmomab; oprelvekin; oxaliplatin;paclitaxel; pamidronate; pegademase; pegaspargase; pegfilgrastirn;pentostatin; pentostatin; pipobroman; plicamycin; mithramycin; porfimersodium; PP2; procarbazine; quinacrine; rasburicase; RC3095; rituximab;sargramostim; streptozocin; talc; tamoxifen; temozolomide; teniposide,VM-26; testolactone; thioguanine, 6-TG; thiotepa; topotecan; toremifene;tositumomab; trastuzumab; tretinoin, ATRA; UO126; uracil mustard;valrubicin; vinblastine; vincristine; vinorelbine; woiluianin; andzoledronate.

A combined dosage form includes an amount of STAT3 decoy and an amountof an anticancer agent effective to reduce growth of a cancer in whichSTAT3 is activated in a patient, interfere with STAT3 binding to a STAT3response element in cancer cells of a patient in which STAT3 isactivated, and/or induce apoptosis in cancer cells of a patient in whichSTAT3 is activated. The combined dosage form can be deliveredintratumorally, intraperitoneally or intravenously, as is desired.

In one example, the anticancer agent is gossypol(2,2′-bis-(Formyl-1,6,7-trihydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-methylnaphthalene), adrug refined from cottonseed oil and having purported anticancereffects. Gossypol is a BH3 domain small molecule mimetic that targetsBcl-X_(L), Studies have shown that gossypol binds to the BH3 domain ofBcl-X_(L) and Bcl-2 to cause apoptosis. Gossypol treatment typicallyinduces DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, loss of mitochondrial membranepotential, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-3, and -9.Because over-expression of Bcl-X_(L) has been reported in SCCHN andreduced expression is associated with increased response tochemotherapy, the use of molecular approaches that target Bcl-X_(L)represents a potential approach to induce apoptosis in SCCHN. Indeed,(−)-gossypol has been shown to be an effective antitumor treatment inSCCHN (Oliver et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 10(22):7757-63, Nov. 15, 2004),but at relatively high concentrations. Gossypol exists in two opticalisomers, the (−)-isomer being associated with contraceptive effects,while the (+)-isomer has been implicated in cardiotoxicity in cattle. Inone embodiment, the anticancer agent is (−)-gossypol, composition, whichmay contain small or trace amounts, and in any case,pharmacologically-insignificant amounts of the (+)-gossypol isomer. Amethod of resolving a racemic gossypol acetic acid composition into the(+) and (−) enantiomers is provided in Oliver et al. 2004.

The following examples are intended to further illustrate the invention,without intending for the invention to be limited to the specificembodiments described therein.

Example 1 Parent STAT3 Decoy and Mutant Control Decoys.

The parent STAT3 and mutant control decoys, phosphorothioated sense andantisense strands of STAT3 decoy and mutant control decoyoligonucleotides were designed and obtained from DNA Synthesis Facility,University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) by means ofβ-cyanothylphysphoramidite chemistry to minimize degradation of theoligonucleotides by endogenous nucleases. The STAT3 decoy sequence,based on the hSIE sequence, was 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 30),3′-GTAAAGGGCATTTAG-5′ (SEQ ID NO:5) and the mutant control decoysequence was 5′-CATTTCCCTTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:6), 3′-GTAAAGGGAATTTAG-5′(SEQ ID NO:7). Sense and antisense strands were dissolved in Tris-EDTA(pH 8.0) at a concentration of 900-1,200 μM. Each sense-antisense pairwas annealed by heating to 90° C. and decreasing the temperature by 5°C. increments every 15 minutes. After 3 hours, the reaction mixture washeld at a base temperature of 4° C.

The STAT3 decoy sequence was systematically derived from the sequence ofthe c-fos gene shown to be necessary fox binding of the sis-induciblefactor (SIF) as described in Wagner et al., EMBO J. 9(13):4477-4484(1990). A longer sequence was initially examined, with the shorter decoysequence identified by underlining as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 3) 5′-AGCTTGTCGACATTTCCCGTAAATCGTCGAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 8)3′-TCGAACAGCTGTAAAGGGCATTTAGCAGCTC-5′

Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), it was found thatthis longer sequence was effective in blocking STAT3 activation. Thedecoy sequence was systematically shortened, to the sequence underlined,based on the hypothesis that a smaller decoy would be more likely toenter the cell and demonstrate biologic activity.

Derivative decoys were identified by electrophoretic mobility shiftassay.

Table 1 describes a number of STAT3 decoy derivatives along with theirrelative binding to STAT3.

TABLE 1 Sequences and Relative STAT3-DNA Binding Affinities of STAT3Decoy and Mutant Decoys. Relative # of binding basepair to mutationsSTAT3 STAT3 Decoy (hSIE) 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ ++++ (SEQ ID NOS: 30, 5)3′-GTAAAGGGCATTTAG-5′ SIE 5′-CAGTTCCCTTAAATC-3′ ++ (SEQ ID NOS: 4, 9)3′-GTCAAGGGAATTTAG-5′ Mutants of STAT3 Decoy Mutant 15′-CAGTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ 1 +++ (SEQ ID NOS: 10, 11) 3′-GTCAAGGGCATTTAG-5′Mutant 2 5′-CATTTCACGTAAATC-3′ 1 + (SEQ ID NOS: 12, 13)3′-GTAAAGTGCATTTAG-5′ Mutant 3 5′-CATTTCCCTTAAATC-3′ 1 −(SEQ ID NOS: 14, 15) 3′-GTAAAGGGAATTTAG-5′ Mutant 45′-CATTTCCCGTCAATC-3′ 1 ++ (SEQ ID NOS: 16, 17) 3′-GTAAAGGGCAGTTAG-5′Mutant 5 5′-CAGTTCACGTAAATC-3′ 2 ++ (SEQ ID NOS: 18, 19)3′-GTCAAGTGCATTTAG-5′ Mutant 6* 5′-CAGTTCCCGTCAATC-3′ 2 +(SEQ ID NOS: 20, 21) 3′-GTCAAGGGCAGTTAG-5′ Mutant 75′-CATTTCACGTCAATC-3′ 2 + (SEQ ID NOS: 22, 23) 3′-GTAAAGTGCAGTTAG-5′Mutant 8 5′-CATTTCCCTTCAATC-3′ 2 +++ (SEQ ID NOS: 24, 25)3′-GTAAAGGGAAGTTAG-5′ Mutant 9 5′-CAGTTCACGTCAATC-3′ 3 +/−(SEQ ID NOS: 26, 27) 3′-GTCAAGTGCAGTTAG-5′ Mutant 105′-CAGTTCCCTTCAATC-3′ 3 +/− (SEQ ID NOS: 28, 29) 3′-GTCAAGGGAAGTTAG-5′*wild-type core sequence of SIF binding element of c-fos promoter:Wagner et al, EMBO J. 9(13): 4477-4484 (1990).

Example 2 Preparation of Modified STATS Decoys I. Modifying a STAT3Decoy for Systemic Administration

The “parent” STAT3 decoy consists of a 15-mer double-strandedoligonucleotide backbone optionally with three phosphorothioatemodifications (PTO) at the 3′ and 5′ end of the double-strandedstructure (Leong PL, et al. 2003. p. 4138-43). The PTO modifications donot prevent rapid degradation by enzymes in human plasma and there is noevidence of antitumor efficacy when this formulation is deliveredsystemically in mice bearing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) xenografts. To enable systemic administration, the parent STAT3decoy formulation was modified to: 1) enhance stability and 2) enableuptake into tumors.

The parent decoy, having two complementary oligonucleotide strands,inhibits STAT3-mediated signaling and cancer cell growth when in aduplex formulation. To test the parent decoy, the HNSCC cell line UM-22Bwas stably transfected with a luciferase gene under the control of highaffinity serum inducible element (hSIE) promoter (UM-22B STAT3 Luc27-11). Cells were plated and after 24 hours, they were transfected withSTAT3 decoy (annealed), STAT3 decoy (sense strand), STAT3 decoy(antisense strand) and the respective mutant controls.

The concentration of STAT3 decoy, STAT3 decoy (sense strand) and STAT3decoy (antisense strand) and their mutant controls used in this assaywas based on the EC₅₀ (12.6 nM) concentration of the STAT3 decoy inUM-22B cells. Cells were harvested after 24 hours and a luciferase assaywas carried out (FIG. 1). These results indicate that the duplex decoyis required to achieve inhibition of STAT3 transcriptional activity.

To stabilize the STAT3 decoy duplex olignonucleotide, a series ofchemically modified STAT3 decoys have been designed, synthesized andtested. These modified decoys are being analyzed for their resistance tonucleases and hence stability when administered in vivo. The schematicrepresentations below describe the modified STAT3 decoys tested.

The mutant controls used in the experiments described herein, i.e.,“STAT3 mutants” MN4, MS18 and MLNA-1, differ from STAT3 decoys DN4, DS18and LNA-1 (described below), respectively, by only a single base pair.For all the STAT3 mutants, the ninth nucleotide in the original STAT3decoy oligonucleotide sequence has been substituted to T from G.

A. Description of Modified STAT3 decoys:

The parent and the modified STAT3 decoys consist of a 15-meroligonucleotide containing both a sense and an antisense strand. Inaddition, “modified” STAT3 decoys have the following modifications (seeTable 2, below).

TABLE 2 Summary of Parent and Modified STAT3 Decoys Parent (# 1) andmodified (#′s 2-7) STAT3 decoys Description 1. Parent STAT3 A 15-meroligonucleotide with 3 phosphorothioate decoy modifications at the 5′and 3′ ends of both the strands to act as a blocker of exonucleaseactivity. 2. DH3S A 15-mer oligonucleotide with 3 phosphorothioatemodifications at the 5′ end of one strand and 3′ end of the other. Thetwo strands are linked at one end by a hairpin consisting of 3nucleotides to maintain the double stranded conformation. 3. DH4S A15-mer oligonucleotide with 3 phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′end of one strand and 3′ end of the other. The two strands are linked atone end by a hairpin consisting of 4 nucleotides. 4. DN4 A 15-meroligonucleotide with 3 phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′ and 3′end of both the strands. The two strands are linked at one end by ahairpin consisting of 4 nucleotides. 5. DS18 A 15-mer oligonucleotidewith 3 phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′ end of the sense strandand the 3′end of the antisense strand. The two strands are linked at oneend by a hairpin consisting of 18- atom hexa-ethyleneglycol (C-18)spacers which do not physically interact with any DNA or with any DNAbinding enzymes. 6. LNA A 15-mer oligonucleotide with 3 locked nucleicacid's (LNA) at the 5′ end of the sense strand and the 3′ end of theantisense strand and two LNA's at the 3′end of the sense strand and the5′end of the antisense strand. The two strands are linked at one end byC-18 spacer (18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol). 7. LNA-1 A 15-meroligonucleotide with 1 locked nucleic acid (LNA) at the 5′ end of onestrand and 3′ end of the other. The two strands are linked at one end bya hairpin consisting of C-18 spacer (18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol).

1. STAT3 Parent Decoy:

Three phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′ and 3′ ends of both thestrands were included to act as a blocker of exonuclease activity. Stat3Decoy sequence was 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:30),3′-GTAAAGGGCATTTAG-5′ (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the mutant control decoysequence was 5′-CATTTCCCTTAAATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6), 3′-GTAAAGGGAATTTAG-5′(SEQ ID NO: 7). The first three bases and the last three bases in everysequence are phosphorothioated.

2. Modified Decoys:

For all the modified STAT3 decoys, the original parent STAT3 15-meroligonucleotide sequence was modified as described below.

In order to maintain the two strands of the parent STAT3 decoy together,initial modifications included either three or four nucleotides in thehairpin, which have been shown to increase the stability of anydouble-stranded structure (Hirao I, et al. Nucleic acids research1994;22(4):576-82; Antao VP, Tinoco I, Jr. Nucleic acids research1992;20(4):819-24). Hence the first two modifications (DH3S and DH4S,described below) were designed to include either three (DH3S) or four(DH4S) nucleotides forming a hairpin in the parent STAT3 decoy structurethat will maintain the two strands together.

DH3S:

For DH3S, three phosphorothioate modifications were included at the 5′end of one strand and the 3′ end of the other strand. The two strandswere linked at one end by a hairpin consisting of three nucleotides(GAA) to maintain the double stranded conformation.

DH4S:

For DH4S, three phosphorothioate modifications were included at the 5′end of one strand and the 3′ end of the other strand. The two strandswere linked at one end by a hairpin consisting of four nucleotides(GAAA). The parent STAT3 decoy, DH3S and DH4S are illustrated in FIG. 2.

The DH3 S and DH4S decoys were tested for their effects on STAT3promoter activity and compared to the parent (unmodified) STAT3 decoy,For this assay, the HNSCC stable cell line UM-22B STAT3 Luc 27-11, asdescribed above, was used. Cells were plated and after 24 hours,transfected with STAT3 decoy, DH3S and DH4S and their respective mutantcontrols. The concentration of STAT3 decoy, DH3S and DH4S used in thisassay was based on the EC₅₀ (12,6 nM) concentration of the STAT3 decoyin UM-22B cells. Cells were harvested after 24 hours and luciferaseassay was carried out (FIG. 3).

Of the two modified decoys, DH3S and DH-4S, DH4S demonstrateddownmodulation of promoter activity which was comparable to the parentSTAT3 decoy.

DN4:

In this modification, three phosphorothioate modifications at the 5′ endof one strand and 3′ end of the other strand and the two strands werelinked at one end by a hairpin consisting of four nucleotides (GAAA).DN4 is illustrated in FIG. 4.

DS18:

In order to keep the double-stranded STAT3 decoy oligonucleotidestructure together, and simultaneously make the decoy resistant to S1nuclease, an oligonucleotide with C-18 spacers (an 18-atomhexa-ethyleneglycol molecule) linking the two strands was designed. C-18spacers are structurally different from the DNA backbone, and do notphysically interact with any DNA or with DNA binding enzymes.

The DS18 modification comprises three phosphorothioate modifications atthe 5′ end in the sense strand and the 3′ end in the antisense strand.The two strands were linked at one end by a hairpin consisting of C-18spacers. DS18 is illustrated in FIG. 5 a and the C-18 spacer isillustrated in FIG. 5 b.

LNA:

The use of locked nucleic acid (LNA) in the design of STAT3 decoy tofurther enhance stability was also evaluated. Three locked nucleicacid's (LNA) were placed at the 5′ end of the sense strand and the 3′end of the antisense strand and two LNA's were placed at the 3′end ofthe sense strand and the 5′end of the antisense strand. The two strandsare linked at one end by C-18 spacer (18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol). LNAis illustrated in FIG. 6.

In order to identify a STAT3 decoy molecule that has increased affinityfor the target transcription factor and is also stable in biologicalmedia, the next series of modified decoys were evaluated forsusceptibility to nuclease degradation. The STAT3 parent decoy, DN4,DS18 and LNA were incubated in mouse serum for increasing amounts oftime (1 minutes to 72 hours) and then analyzed on a 15% TBE+7 M urea gelto assess degradation. The serum stability assay demonstrated increasedresistance of. DN4, DS 18 and LNA to serum nucleases compared to theparent STAT3 decoy (FIG. 7). LNA is stable up to 8 hours whereas DN4 isstable up to 4 hours, DS 18 up to 3.5 hours and the parent STAT3 decoyis resistant up to 1.5 hours.

Based on the increased stability of this LNA-modified decoy, an in vivoexperiment was performed where the parent STAT3 decoy and the LNAmodified decoy were given systemically to test the antitumor efficacy.Athymic nude mice were used for this study and there were 8 mice pergroup. The treatment groups included: (i) vehicle control (saline),(ii)- STAT3 decoy, and (iii) LNA modified decoy. The xenografts weregenerated with the head and neck cancer cell line UM-22B. On the sameday of tumor cell inoculation, mice were treated with daily intravenous(i.v.) injections of saline, the parent STAT3 decoy or the LNA modifieddecoy (100 μg STAT3 decoy or LNA modified decoy/mouse/day), During the17-day treatment period, tumor volumes were measured three times a week.At the end of the treatment period, the mice were sacrificed. As shownin FIG. 8, intravenous administration of the parent or the LNA-modifieddecoy failed to abrogate tumor growth.

Analyses of the tumor volumes showed no difference between the micetreated with LNA modified decoy and vehicle (saline), suggesting thatthe LNA modified decoy does not have antitumor efficacy. Also, the tumorvolumes in the mice treated with saline as a vehicle control and theparent STAT3 decoy were similar, indicating that the parent STAT3 decoyis degraded by the serum nucleases, thereby supporting the rationale formodifying the STAT3 decoy to enhance stability.

Without intending to be bound by any particular theory, it is possiblethat these initial attempts to place LNA modifications on the STAT3decoy were not successful if the LNA moieties interfered with theaccessibility of the STAT3 binding region in the LNA to pSTAT3 protein.It has been reported that positioning of internal LNA in anoligonucleotide may interfere with affinity as well as stability(Crinelli R, et al. Nucleic acids research 2004;32(6):1874-85).Moreover, LNA modification of an oligonucleotide changes theconformation of the neighboring residues from the B-form to the A form(Di Giusto D A, King G C. Nucleic acids research 2004;32(3):e32).

To test this hypothesis, the binding affinity of the parent STAT3 decoyto tyrosine phosphorylated recombinant STAT3 was determined by surfaceplasmon resonance (SPR). Solutions of STAT3 decoy were prepared atmultiple concentrations and passed over STAT3 immobilized in a sensorchip and measured on a BIAcore 3000 instrument and affinities calculatedby the BIAevaluation software (Version 4,1, BIAcore). The amount ofSTAT3 decoy bound to STAT3 increased directly with increasingconcentrations of STAT3 decoy in the test solutions. Data analysis byfitting the sensorgrams to a Langmuir 1:1 model of binding yieldedkinetic and affinity values (Table 3).

TABLE 3 The affinities of Stat3 decoy to Stat3 calculated from Langmuirbinding analysis. Conc of Stat3 decoy k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(A)(1/M) K_(D) (M) Chi²  5 mM 2.68 × 10⁴ 4.84 × 10⁻³ 5.52 × 10⁶ 1.81 × 10⁻⁷0.287 10 mM 2.21 × 10⁴ 2.85 × 10⁻³ 7.75 × 10⁶ 1.29 × 10⁻⁷ 20 mM 9.34 ×10³ 5.17 × 10⁻³ 1.81 × 10⁶ 5.54 × 10⁻⁷ 40 mM 5.71 × 10³ 3.77 × 10⁻³ 1.52× 10⁶ 6.59 × 10⁻⁷ 80 mM 5.25 × 10³  5.2 × 10⁻³ 1.01 × 10⁶ 9.91 × 10⁻⁷In contrast to the parent STAT3 decoy, the decoy modified with 10 LNAmolecules did not bind to STAT3.

LNA-1:

In order to eliminate the effect of conformational change in the actualbinding region, the parent the STAT3 decoy was modified with only oneLNA at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the two strands to increase stability aswell as efficacy.

LNA-1 contains one locked nucleic acid (LNA) at the 5′ end of one strandand 3′ end of the other strand. The two strands are linked at one end bya hairpin consisting of C-18 spacer. LNA-1 is illustrated in FIG. 9.

As described above with respect to LNA, the stability of LNA-1 in serumnucleases where LNA-1 was exposed to serum for increasing amounts oftime (1 minute to 72 hours) was tested and then analyzed on a 15% TBE+7M urea gel to assess degradation. The serum stability assay demonstrateda half-life of LNA-1 up to at least 8 hours compared to 1.5 hours forSTAT3 decoy (see FIG. 7).

II. Binding of STAT3 Decoy and Modified STAT3 Decoys to pSTAT3 Protein:

The binding of STAT3 decoy and the modified STAT3 decoys to pSTAT3protein were evaluated by gel electrophoresis using a sensitivefluorescent stain to detect double or single-stranded DNA (FIG. 10). Asshown in FIG. 10, the DN4, DS 18 and LNA-1 modified decoy bound torecombinant pSTAT3 protein as well as the parent decoy and with greaterapparent avidity than the other modified decoys tested.

To more quantitatively assess the affinity of the decoy for pSTAT3protein, the binding affinity by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) wasdetermined. Solutions of STAT3 decoy were prepared at multipleconcentrations and passed over recombinant tyrosine phosphorylated STAT3immobilized in a sensor chip.

The amount of parent STAT3 decoy and modified STAT3 decoys bound torecombinant pSTAT3 increased directly with increasing concentrations ofSTAT3 decoy in test solutions. Data analysis by fitting the sensorgramsto a Langmuir 1:1 model of binding yielded kinetic and affinity values(Table 4).

TABLE 4 The affinities of parent STAT3 decoy and modified STAT3 decoysto STAT3 calculated from Langmuir binding analysis Decoys k_(a) (1/Ms)k_(d) (1/s) K_(A) (1/M) K_(D) (M) Chi² STAT3 5.85 × 10⁴ 7.16 × 10⁻³ 8.17× 10⁶ 1.22 × 10⁻⁷ 0.704 decoy DN4 4.14 × 10⁴ 7.53 × 10⁻³ 5.50 × 10⁶ 1.82× 10⁻⁷ 1.26 DS18 4.76 × 10⁴ 6.79 × 10⁻³ 7.02 × 10⁶ 1.42 × 10⁻⁷ 1.26

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data confirms the binding of theunmodified STAT3 decoy, DN4, and DS18 to pSTAT3 protein.

Next, the melting temperature for the parent STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18 andLNA-1 decoys were assessed to evaluate their thermal stability. Meltingtemperature was determined using a Varian Cary 300 Bio spectrophotometerequipped with a thermoelectrically controlled multicell holder, using1.5 μM strand concentration each in 10 mM Tris and 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0.The parent (unmodified) and modified decoys were subjected to thermaldenaturation at 260 nm at the heating and cooling rate of 1° C./min from20 to 90° C. from which the melting temperature was determined. Meltingtransitions (Tm values) were determined by taking the first derivativesof the UV-melting curves (see FIGS. 11).

The melting temperature demonstrated increased thermal. stability forall of the modified decoys tested as compared to the parent STAT3 decoy.To verify that these stabilized decoys maintained their biologicactivity in HNSCC cells, their impact on growth was examined. Cells(30,000 cells/well) were seeded in a 24-well plate in DMEM containingFBS. After 24 hours, cells were transfected with varying concentrationsfrom 1 μM -0.0001 μM of the STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 in presence ofOPTIMEM and lipofectamine 2000. After 4 hours, the transfection mediawas replaced with DMEM containing 10% serum. At the end of 72 hours, MITassay was performed to determine the EC50 concentration It was foundthat the modified STAT3 decoys tested (DN4, DS18, LNA-1) inhibited headand neck cancer cell proliferation in vitro at nanomolar concentrationswith EC₅₀ ranging from 12.3 nM for STAT3 decoy, 15.3 nM for DN4, 12.8 nMfor DS18 and 303 nM for LNA-I in 1483 cells (FIG. 12A).

In a second experiment, UM-SCC1 cells were used. UM-SCC1 cells (30,000cells/well) were seeded in a 24-well plate in DMEM containing FBS. After24 hours, cells were transfected with varying concentrations from 1 μM-0.0001 μM of the STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 in presence of OPTIMEM andlipofectamine 2000. After 4 hours, the transfection media was replacedwith DMEM containing 10% FBS. At the end of 72 hours, MTT assay wasperformed to determine the EC₅₀ concentration (FIG. 12B).

In an assay measuring percent survival rate of cells transfected withSTAT3 decoys, it was found that modified STAT3 decoys decreased cellviability similar to the parent STAT3 decoy in HNSCC cells. 1483 cells(30000 cells/well) were plated in a 24 well plate and after 24 hourstransfected with the parent STAT3 decoy or the modified decoys and theirrespective mutant controls. The mutant decoys differ from the parentalSTAT3 decoy by only a single base-pair. The cells were transfected withSTAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18 and LNA-1 and their respective mutant controls(MN4, MS18, and MLNA-1) at the EC₅₀. Results from this experimentdemonstrated that the modified decoys resulted in about 50% decrease incell survival which was comparable to the parent STAT3 decoy (FIG. 13A).The data are represented as SEM of triplicate samples. These results arefrom three separate experiments. Results from a second experiment inUM-SCC1 cells for DN4/MN4 and DS18/MS18 are set forth in FIG. 13B. Theseresults indicate that the modified STAT3 decoys kill the cells. Incontract, cells treated with the mutant control modified decoys are nottoxic.

Of the STAT3 modified decoys tested, three (DN4, DS18 and LNA-1) havebeen shown to bind to pSTAT3 as well as the parent STAT3 decoy. Thesethree modified decoys have also shown increased half-life (about 4 hoursfor DN4, about 3.5 hours for DS18 and almost 8 hours for LNA-1) comparedto the parent STAT3 decoy which is only stable up to about 1.5 hours.Despite increased stability, the modified decoys have not demonstratedenhanced inhibition of HNSCC growth in vitro that is increased ascompared to the parent decoy as indicated by EC₅₀ values, although allthree do inhibit cancer cell proliferation in vitro.

III. Design of Cyclic STAT3 Decoys

The STAT3 decoy duplex oligonucleotide will be circularized to increasebinding affinity and resistance to serum nucleases.

2-CS18 STAT3 decoy:

The cyclic STAT3 decoy will consist of a 15-mer double strandedoligonucleotide where the two strands are linked by C-18 spacers at twoends. The circular oligonucleotide is constructed by circularization ofthe 3′ and 5′ ends of the oligonucleotides by enzymatic ligation. Sinceenzymatic degradation generally occurs from the 3′ end of single strandsand frayed ends of duplexes, eyelization of the two strands will confergreater resistance against nucleases. The 2-CS18 STAT3 decoy isillustrated in FIG. 14.

2 LP-STAT3 decoy:

This modification will have the parent STAT3 decoy backbone (without PTOmodifications) and the 5′ end of the sense and the 3′ end of theantisense linked through LP1a (LP1a) and LP1b (LP1b) spacers where asthe 3′ end of the sense and the 5′ end of the antisense are linked byLP2. The 2 LP-STAT3 decoy is illustrated in FIG. 15A. LP1a, LP2, andLP1b are illustrated in FIG. 15B.

This design differs from 2-CS18 STAT3 (described above) in that itutilizes an optimized set of spacers recently developed by El-Sagbeer etal. (Chembiochem 2008;9(1):50-2)) that show unusually high enzymatic andthermodynamic stabilities.

The cyclic oligonucleotides will maintain the B-form conformation andare expected to demonstrate increased thermodynamic stability arisingfrom the intramolecular nature of the construct. The cyclic STAT3 decoysare expected to remain double-stranded in the cell, exhibit highresistance to nucleases and will be more easily internalized by thecells than their acyclic counterpart.

Maximum efficacy of a systemically delivered STAT3 decoy to the targettumor site requires uptake by the tumor cells. One approach to enhanceuptake is to covalently attach polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) tothe cyclic STAT3 decoy, This strategy is utilized to deliver themodified STAT3 decoy with the greatest stability to enhance uptake intothe HNSCC tumor when administered systemically.

2 LP DHA-STAT3 decoy: This modification will have the parent STAT3 decoybackbone (without PTO modifications) and the 5′ end of the sense and the3′ end of the antisense are linked by LP1a-Monomer (LP1a-M) and theLP1b-Monomer (LP1b-M) where as the 3′ end of the sense and the 5′ end ofthe antisense are linked by T1 with DHA attached to it. The 2 LPDHA-STAT3 decoy is illustrated in FIG. 16A. LP1a, LP1b, T1, and DHA areillustrated in FIG. 16B.

Methods for preparing some of these units individually have beenestablished (El-Sagheer AH, et al. Chembiochem 2008;9(1):50-2; KocalkaP, et al. Chembiochem 2008;9(8):1280-5). The LP1a-Monomer (LP1a-M), theLP1b-Monomer (LP1b-M), and the LP2-Monomer (LP2-M) are illustrated inFIG. 17.

These further STAT3 decoys will systematically be tested for theirbinding affinity to pSTAT3 protein, nuclease degradation and efficacy inHNSCC preclinical models.

Example 3

Summary of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis for pSTAT3: Bindingof Decoy and Modified Decoys

I. Materials and Methods

Solution Preparation

All the buffers and ddH₂O were degassed and filtered (0.22 um filter)before use in all the SPR experiments.

Instrument Preparation

A cleaning step utilizing the Desorb protocol was performed withreagents supplied by BIAcore (0.5% SDS and 50 mM glycine at pH 9.5).This was followed by a second step of Superclean with freshly preparedsolutions (1% HAc, 0.2 MNaHCO₃, 6 M guanidine-HCl and 10 mM HCL). Oncethe clean steps were completed, the machine was primed three times withddH₂O, A system test was performed to check the signal quality and theresults were compared to previous cleaning protocols to ascertaininstrumental performance.

II. Immobilization of pStat3 on a CM5 Chip

To optimize the activity and stability of pSTAT3, all the experimentswere performed at 4° C. including maintaining the sample holders in theBiacore3000 at this temperature with circulating water-bath. PreliminarypH scouting experiments were performed prior to immobilization of pSTAT3on the CM5 chip to determine the optimal pH for pre- concentration ofligand (e.g., pSTAT3) onto CM5 surface (FIG. 18A). The optimizedconditions for immobilization of pSTAT3 were determined using aconcentration of pSTAT3 at 20 μg/ML with acetate buffer at pH 5.0. Highcapacity surfaces were generated via standard BDC/NHS-mediated aminecoupling procedure (FIG. 18B). Briefly, a freshly prepared aqueoussolution containing 0.2 M EDC and 0.05 M NHS was injected for 7 minutesto activate the CM5 chip, followed by injection of pSTAT3 at 20 μg/mL inacetate buffer (pH 5.0) for 10 minutes. The concentration and durationof STAT3 injection was calculated to obtain signals within a desired RUrange. Following STAT3 immobilization, the surface was capped to preventfurther reaction by a 7-minute pulse of 1 M ethanolamine at pH 8.5,capping excess activated ester groups on the CM5 surface. The averageimmobilization level of pSTAT3 was about 3825±42 RU determined from tworeplicated sets of experiments.

III. Binding of Decoy/Modified Decoy to pStat3

All samples of the decoy and modified decoy such as STAT3 decoy, DN4, DS18 and LNA were diluted into running buffer (20 mM HEPES, pH 7.0, 200 mMNaCl, 10 mM MgCl₂) with the concentrations across the range of 0.323 μMto ˜10 μM except for LNA where the concentration ranged from 5 μM˜80 μM.The kinetics measurements were performed by flowing the decoy (ormodified decoy) through the reference channel and pSTAT3 affixedchannel, at a flow rate of 30 μL/min for 1 minute. At the end of theassociation phase, the flow rate was maintained to monitor dissociationkinetics for a duration of 3 minutes. A 2 M NaCl solution was used asregeneration buffer. Data analysis was performed with the BIAevaluationsoftware. Data were fitted to a 1:1 binding model using global settingsfor k_(a) and k_(d) and modeling various baseline changes (drifts).

The binding results from two replicate experiments determining bindingof decoy to different concentrations (0.313 μM, 0.625 μM, 1.25 μM, 5.0μm, 10.0 μM and 0.625 μM, 1.25 μM, 2.5 μM, 5.0 μM, 10.0 μM, 20.0 μM) topStat3 immobilized on the CM5 chip and their affinities were calculatedusing above statistical modeling analysis based on the resultingsensorgrarns (Table 5A).

TABLE 5A The affinities of parent decoy to pSTAT3. Results k_(a) (1/Ms)k_(d) (1/s) K_(A) (1/M) K_(D) (M) Chi² Experiment 1 5.85 × 10⁴ 7.16 ×10⁻³ 8.17 × 10⁶ 1.22 × 10⁻⁷ 0.704 Experiment 2 6.48 × 10⁴ 7.46 × 10⁻³8.68 × 10⁶ 1.15 × 10⁻⁷ 2.2 Mean ± SD 6.17 ± 0.45 × 10⁴ 7.31 ± 0.21 ×10⁻³ 8.43 ± 0.36 × 10⁶ 1.19 ± 0.05 × 10⁻³

The binding of decoy to different concentrations (5 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 40μM, and 80 μM) to pStat3 immobilized on the CM5 chip was repeated againand their affinities were calculated (Table 5B) based on the resultingsensorgrams.

TABLE 5B The affinities of parent decoy to pSTAT3. Results k_(a) (1/Ms)k_(d) (1/s) K_(A) (1/M) K_(D) (M) Chi² Experiment 2.33 × 10⁴ 7.46 × 10⁻³3.12 × 10⁶ 3.20 × 10⁻⁷ 0.161 1IV. Stability of pSTAT3 Immobilized on the CM5 Chip

Although all the experiments (immobilization and all binding experimentsdescribed in Example 2 and Table SA and B) were performed at 4° C., thestability of pStat3 may be limited, possibly by loss of phosphorylationwith time. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, thismay explain the decreasing responses observed within the duration of theexperiments, Initial responses for the binding of 10 μM decoy to freshlyimmobilized pStat3 were ˜133-136 RU. The responses decreased to 7,7 RUand 7.4 RU, respectively, in the first and second experiments,respectively. It was also observed that the activity of the pStat3decreased rapidly even within the same day, after freshly immobilizingpStat3 on a new CM5 chip. During attempts to replicate the earlierbinding studies of the second experiment, after one complete cycle ofkinetic measurements were conducted on the parent decoy and modifieddecoy, found that the RU decreased significantly after ˜4 hours.

The standard deviations for binding of parentdecoy to pStat3 were alllow since care was taken to measure all the binding interactions ofdecoy to pStat3 immediately after pStat3 was immobilized on the chip.These were followed sequentially with the binding experiments for themodified decoys, DS18 or DN4. The binding results of the parent(unmodified decoy) were used to ascertain the activity/stability ofpStat3, serving as a reference for this purpose. Due to the presumedlimited stability of pStat3, the standard deviations for the analysis ofmodified decoys to pStat3 (DS18 and DN4) are higher than for theunmodified decoy for these reasons.

Example 4 Incorporation of STAT3 Decoys in Microbubbles

Microbubbles were incubated with STAT3 decoy and/or FAM labelled STAT3decoy and washed several times with 1×PBS. The fluorescence label FAMwas connected to the 5′ end of the STAT3 decoy oligonucleotide. TheSTAT3 decoy or FAM-labeled STAT3 decoy was mixed with microbubbles andwashed with PBS to remove the unbound STAT3 decoy or microbubbles. Themixture was centrifuged and the wash step was repeated several times.Finally the washes and disrupted microbubbles containing STAT3 decoy orFAM-labeled STAT3 decoy were run on a 6% Polyacrylamide-TBE gel andstained with SYBR Gold Nucleic Acid stain. STAT3 decoy and FAM-STAT3decoy were used as controls. Results are shown in FIG. 19.

Example 5

Administration of Modified STAT3 Decoy in an In Vivo Animal Model

The modified STAT3 decoys are tested in xenograft studies by inoculatingSCCHN tumor cells (1-2×10⁶) subcutaneously. Once the mice developpalpable tumor nodules (generally 7-14 days later), they are randomizedto receive: 1) systemic (intravenous) administration of the modifiedSTAT3 decoy; 2) systemic administration of the mutant control decoymodified similarly to the STAT3 decoy; 3) intratumoral administration ofthe unmodified STAT3 decoy; or 4) intratumoral administration of theunmodified control decoy. Randomization is carried out using astatistical program based on tumor volumes to assure that mice in eachgroup have a comparable tumor burden. Daily treatments are administeredover a range of doses (0-10 mg/kg/daily). The systemic treatments aregiven by tail vein injection. In all experiments, the mutant controldecoy are administered by a similar route as a negative DNA control.Intratumoral administration of the unmodified decoy will be used as apositive control.

Several SCCHN cell lines known to grow well as xenografts in vivo (e.g.,1483, UM-2213, Cal-33) are used. The effect of systemic administrationof the modified STAT3 decoy on tumor volumes is examined usingsubcutaneous xenograft models and the effects on metastasis is testedusing the orthotopic xenograft model, wherein SCCHN cells are injectedinto the floor-of-the-mouth with a high incidence of metastasis to thecervical lymph nodes.

If anti-tumor effects with systemic administration of a modified STAT3decoy in SCCHN xenograft models are observed, the experiment is repeatedin three SCCHN models of EGFR inhibitor resistance. These modelsinclude: (1) isogenic SCCHN cells that are resistant to EGFR TKI(erlotinib or gefitinib) in vitro and in vivo and which also demonstrateresistance to cetuximab in vivo; (2) isogenic cells from several SCCHNcell lines that demonstrate resistance to EGFR mAb (cetuximab) in vivo;and (3) isogenic SCCHN cells engineered to express the EGFR mutationEGFRvIII, which lacked an external ligand binding domain thus renderingcells that expressed this altered receptor relatively resistant tocetuximab. All three models of EGFR inhibitor resistance demonstrateincreased expression of pSTAT3 and remain sensitive to the growthinhibitory effects of the STAT3 decoy.

The anti-tumor effects of the systemically administered modified STAT3decoy(s) is examined alone, and in combination with EGFR targetingagents including cetuximab or erlotinib. Isogenic parental (orvector-transfected control) cell lines are used to generate xenograftsand used as controls.

Example 6

STAT3 Binding Assay for pStat3 Decoy and Modified Decoys DN4 and DSI8

To determine the specific binding affinities of the parent and themodified decoys (DN4 and DS18) to the pSTAT3 protein, surface plasmonresonance (SPR) analyses were performed using a BIAcore 3000 instrument(GE Healthcare, Piscataway, N.J.). All buffer and sample solutions werefiltered and degassed prior to each run, with more optimal pH andinstrument parameters determined empirically. The pSTAT3 protein at 10μg/ml in 10 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.0), was immobilized onfreshly activated chip surface. Phosphorylated STAT3 protein was coupledon carboxymethylated dextran matrix (CM5) chips following standardprotocols. Unreacted sites on the chip surface were blocked using 1.0 Methanolamine-IICI (pH 8.5). Binding of STAT3 decoy, DN4 and DS18 topSTAT3 protein were determined at several concentrations such as 0.308μM 0.625 μM, 1.25 μM, 2.5 μM 5.0 μM and 10.0 μM of analyte solutions, ata flow rate of 30 μL/min in a running buffer (20 mM HEPES, pH 7.0, 200mM NaCl, 10 mM MgCl₂). Results are shown in FIG. 20. The amount of STAT3decoy bound to pSTAT3 increased directly with increasing concentrationsof STAT3 decoy.

Example 7 Internalization of Modified STAT3 Decoys Assay

The HNSCC cell line, UM-SCC1, was transfected in the presence of OPTIMEMand lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), with 10 nM5′carboxyfluorescein (FAM)-labeled STAT3 decoy, FAM-DN4 or FAM-DS18.Cells transfected with saline (vehicle) served as a control. After 24hours, cells were washed three times with PBS and imaged with confocalmicroscopy to determine internalization of the STAT3 decoy, DN4 andDS18.

Results are shown in FIG. 21. The white granular spots representing thedecoys can be seen within the cells. The modified STAT3 decoys (DN4 andDS18) showed uptake into head and neck cancer cells similar to theparent STAT3 decoy.

Example 8 In Vitro Modulation of Target Gene Expression

To determine the effects of the modified decoys on STAT3 target geneexpression, UM-SCC1 cells were treated with DS18 at the EC₅₀concentration (23.9 nM). After 4 hours, the transfection media wasreplaced with DMEM containing 10% serum. After 72 hours, whole celllysates were extracted and subjected to immunoblotting for cyclin D1 andBcl-X₁ , β-tubulin was used as a loading control.

Results are shown in FIG. 22. The modified decoys DN4 and DS18 haveshown in vitro potency in the low nanomolar range and have alsodemonstrated down modulation of STAT3 target genes.

Example 9 In Vivo Xenograft Tumor Gene Expression

Female athymic nude mice nu/nu (4-6 weeks old; 20 g; HarlanSprague-Dawley) were inoculated with UM-SCCI cells (1.2×106 cells) andafter 8 days when the tumors were palpable (3-4 mm3), mice (5 per group)were treated with a single intravenous injection of DS18 or MS18 (100μg) via the tail vein. After 24 hours, tumors were harvested and Westernblot analyses were performed on the tumor samples for Bcl-X_(L) andcyclin D1. β-actin was used to assess protein loading. Results are shownin FIG. 23 where the bar graph is a quantitative representation of theexpression of Bcl-X_(L) and cyclin D1 relative to β-actin level. Asingle intravenous injection of DS18 caused a decrease in cyclin D1 andBcl-X_(L) in HNSCC xenograft tumors generated from UM-SCC1 cells,indicating that STAT3 decoy modified with 18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycolspacers (DS18) exhibits in vivo activity following systemicadministration. Thus, DS18 and other modified STAT3 decoys representpotential therapeutic agents for modulating expression of STAT3 targetgenes in vivo in tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified STAT3 decoys were tested for serum nuclease degradation,melting temperature, binding to pSTAT3 protein, uptake and biologicactivity. For example, DN4 is stable up to 4 hours and DS18 up to 3.5hours compared with the parent STAT3 decoy, which is resistant only upto 1.5 hours, The melting temperature demonstrated increased thermalstability for all the modified decoys compared to the parent STAT3decoy, Also, the DN4 and DS18 modified decoys bound to recombinantpSTAT3 protein similarly to the parent decoy, and inhibited head andneck cancer cell proliferation in vitro at nanomolar concentrations.

These results indicate that modified STAT3 decoys have improved featuresin terms of stability and potential activity compared to the parentSTAT3 decoy. For example, the binding efficiencies of DN4 and DS 18 topSTAT3 protein is highly comparable to the parent STAT3 decoy and theirincorporation into HNSCC cells is also very similar, Stability in termsof thermal denaturation have shown increased melting temperature for DN4and DS 18 as compared to the parent STAT3 decoy. Linking the sense andthe antisense strand of the STAT3 decoy by a tetra-nucleotide hairpin oran 18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol spacer resulted in further improvement inoligonucleotide biostability. Also, the modified decoys DN4 and DS18exhibit in vitro potency in the low nanomolar range and also causeddownmodulation of STAT3 target genes. Furthermore, a single intravenousinjection of DS18 resulted in downmodulation of cyclin D1 and Bcl-X_(L)in HNSCC xenograft tumors generated from UM-SCC1 cells compared toinjection of tumor-bearing mice injected with the mutant control MS18.These findings indicate that modified STAT3 decoys, including STAT3decoys modified with 18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol spacers (DS18), havesignificant potential as therapeutic agents to manipulate geneexpression and thus have profound clinical relevance.

Various publications are cited herein, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

1. A double-stranded STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy, wherein the decoycomprises an oligonucleotide that binds to STAT3 protein and iseffective in inhibiting growth of a cancer in which STAT3 is activatedwhen administered systemically to a subject, and wherein the decoy has aserum half-life of greater than about 1.5 hours.
 2. The STAT3oligonucleotide decoy of claim 1, wherein the decoy has a unimolecularduplex structure.
 3. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 2, whereinthe decoy comprises at least one phosphorothioated nucleotide.
 4. TheSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 3, wherein the two strands arelinked at one end by a hairpin.
 5. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy ofclaim 4, wherein the hairpin consists of four nucleotides.
 6. The STAT3oligonucleotide decoy of claim 5, wherein the decoy comprises at leastthree pbosphorothioated nucleotide at the 5′ end of one strand the 3′endof the other strand.
 7. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 6,wherein the decoy comprises three phosphorothioate modifications at the5′ and 3′ end of both strands.
 8. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy ofclaim 2, wherein the two strands are linked at one end by a carbonspacer.
 9. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 8, wherein thecarbon spacer is a 18-atom hexa-ethyleneglycol (C-18) spacer.
 10. TheSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 8, wherein the decoy comprisesthree phosphorothioated nucleotides at the 5′ end of one strand andthree phosphorothioated nucleotides at the 3′ end of the other strand.11. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 2, wherein the decoycomprises at least one locked nucleic acid (LNA) at the 5′ end of onestrand and at least one LNA at the 3′ end of the other strand.
 12. TheSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 11, wherein the two strands arelinked at one end by a carbon spacer or a hairpin.
 13. The STAT3oligonucleotide decoy of claim 1, wherein the decoy is a cyclicoligonucleotide.
 14. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 13,wherein the two strands are linked by C-18 spacers at both ends.
 15. TheSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 13, wherein the 5′ end of the sensestrand and the 3′ end of the antisense strands are linked with LP1a andLP1b spacers and the 3′ end of the sense strand and the 5′ end of theantisense strands are linked by an LP2 spacer.
 16. The STAT3oligonucleotide decoy of claim 13, wherein at least one polyunsaturatedfatty acid is covalently linked to the decoy.
 17. The STAT3oligonucleotide decoy of claim 1, wherein the STAT3 decoy comprisesCAN₁TTCN₂CN₃TN₄AN₅TC-(N₇-)_(m)-3′, (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein N₁, N₂, N₃, N₄and N₅ are A, T, G or C, and one, two, three or all of the followingconditions are met: N₁, is T; N₂ is C; N₃ is G, N₄ is A and N₅ is A, andN₆ and N₇ are A, T, G or C and n and m are independently 0-50.
 18. TheSTAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 17, wherein N₂ is a pyrimidine. 19.The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 17, wherein at least two of thefollowing are met: N₁, is T; N₂ is C; N₃ is G, N₄ is A and N₅ is A. 20.The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 17, wherein at least three ofthe following are met: N₁, is T; N₂ is C; N₃ is G, N₄ is A and N₅ is A.21. The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 17, wherein N₃ is G. 22.The STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 1, comprising a derivative ofthe STAT3 target sequence: (5′-(N₆)_(n)-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-(N₇)_(m)-3′,(SEQ ID NO:2), in which N₆ and N7 are A, T, G or C and n and m areindependently 0-50, containing a single nucleotide insertion, deletionor substitution within the sequence 5′-CATTTCCCGTAAATC-3′(SEQ ID NO:30).23. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the STAT3 oligonucleotidedecoy of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 24. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 23, further comprising an anticanceragent.
 25. The composition of claim 23, formulated as a parenteraldosage form.
 26. The composition of claim 25, formulated as anintravenous dosage form.
 27. The composition of claim 23, wherein thedecoy is contained within a microbubble.
 28. The composition of claim23, wherein the decoy is associated with a peptide transduction domain.29. The composition of claim 28, wherein the peptide transduction domainis TAT.
 30. A method of inhibiting growth of a cancer in which STAT3 isactivated in a patient, comprising administering to the patient anamount of the STAT3 oligonucleotide decoy of claim 1 effective toinhibit growth of a cancer in a patient, thereby inhibiting growth ofthe cancer in the patient.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein thecancer is a squamous cell carcinoma.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinthe cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
 33. Themethod of claim 30, comprising administering to the patient a secondanticancer therapy.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the secondanticancer therapy is one or both of a radiation therapy and treatingthe patient with an anticancer agent.
 35. The method of claim 33,wherein the second anticancer therapy is a radiation therapy.
 36. Themethod of claim 33, wherein the second anticancer therapy comprisestreating the patient with an anticancer agent.
 37. The methods of claim33, wherein the anticancer therapy is an epidermal growth factorreceptor (EGFR) antagonist.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein theepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist is cetuxirnab. 39.The method of claim 30, wherein the cancer is selected from the groupconsisting of multiple myeloma, HTLV-1 dependent leukemia, acutemyelogenous leukemia, large granular lymphocyte leukemia, lymphoma,EBV-related Burkitt's lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, cutaneous T-celllymphoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, breastcancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, andprostate cancer.